A/N: Okay, my friend wrote this on paper, so I had to type it. Any grammatical errors are the fault of me, DPSG1, not my friend. It's my friend's version of what a day in Carson's life would have been like as a child.
Night in Scotia
Sonny ran up the steps into the house and carefully opened the door before taking off his large farmer boots. Pausing to make sure the house remained silent, the 11-year-old scooted down the hallway to the room he shared with two of his brothers. On the bottom bunk of the bunk-bed lay Gavin and on the cot in the corner, 5-year-old Ewan slept.
Tip-toeing over to Gavin, Sonny gave him a shake.
"Gav," he shook him again, "Gav, wake up! There are only 53! One's missing! Ger'up, lazy bugger, we got to find 'er!"
Gavin sat up in obvious daze. "Wha time is et?"
"2:36. Now, ger'up and 'elp me, Gav!" Sonny said, running to the closet and tossing a well worn pair of jeans at the boy rubbing sleep-filled eyes.
"Ah've got school in the mornin', Sonny! Why tonight?"
"Ah do, too, an' they always wander away when you're half-asleep. They to it to bug ya, ya daftie. Now, hurry! Do you want to walk kilometers looking for it or jest meters?"
The 5-year-old's eyes popped open and the little boy muttered, "Yer makin' a racket, Sonny. Me sleepin'."
"Ah'm sorry, Ew," Sonny walked over and tucked in the covers around Ewan. "We'll be quieter so ya can sleep."
Gavin groaned softly. "So, no school today?"
Sonny shrugged. "Guess not. Mrs. McGregor won't mind. It's bloody cold out, so bundle up."
Gavin grunted as he pulled on wool socks and a warm red sweater. His clothes resembled Sonny's except Sonny wore a green shirt with a blue stripe across the chest.
Sonny was already busy filling a cloth messenger bag with his schoolbooks, clean socks, batteries, an apple, bread and cheese. He tossed Gavin a similar sack.
Gavin grinned. "Forgot your torch!" he said and passed Sonny's flashlight.
Sonny caught it with a thankful nod, and then he pulled on his coarse wool coat.
Each boy pulled on his boots, put their bag's strap over their heads and picked up their flashlights. Together they crept down the hall. Sonny put his hand on the door's handle, but turned quickly when he heard the creak of floor boards.
Flashing the flashlight on the figure, the boys recognized their 19-year-old brother, Cailan. Cailan studied each for a moment and, assuming Sonny was leading tonight, addressed him in a voice too quiet to awaken the rest of the house.
"Carson Beckett, are you missing a sheep again?"
"Yes, sir," Sonny said, looking down with a blush.
Cailan sighed and said, "Well, you'd better get started. But be careful. You have lunch with you?"
"Yes, Cai. I packed wisely."
"Good to hear. Gavin, grab a coat. And Carson?"
"Yes?"
"Try to remember to close the gate. D you want people to make sheep jokes for the rest of you life?"
"No, sir."
"Good. Now skedaddle, Sonny."
Sonny grinned, opened the door, and reentered the cool evening air. All was still, but somewhere on the hills of Scotland, the fifty-fourth sheep was out there roaming and Carson Beckett would spend all night and day to find it. He did not leave people behind.
Added the last line myself to emphasize the symbolism. Let me know if you like it, don't like it or would have preferred something else (I mean the overall story, not just my little last line addition!) Please review; we really appreciate it!
--DPSG1